Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Rail Workers’ Pay

Thursday 3 December 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Office for National Statistics data shows that rail workers' earnings have risen at rates above RPI since 2011.
  • The Government has provided support to the rail industry since the pandemic.
  • Rail workers are considered key workers who have received support during the pandemic.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Ian Lavery Lab Blyth and Ashington
Employment Transport
Context

No specific context or background was provided. The question is general regarding the adequacy of pay.

Question

What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of pay for rail workers.

Answer from Chris Heaton-Harris

Office for National Statistics data shows that rail workers' earnings have risen at rates above RPI since 2011.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The question asked for a recent assessment of the adequacy, but the answer only provided information on earnings increase without addressing whether this is adequate or not.

How: Provided General Data Instead Of An Adequacy Assessment

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Q2 Ian Lavery Lab Blyth and Ashington
Employment Transport
Context

The questioner references previous praise for rail workers during the pandemic and questions whether, if companies receive taxpayer funds, workers should also receive a decent pay rise. The questioner asks who makes these decisions regarding pay rises.

Question

If these taxpayer handouts are indeed acceptable, do the Minister and the Secretary of State not simply agree that these rail workers—true heroes, key workers—should be receiving a decent pay rise? And Minister, who makes these decisions? Who says whether they can have a pay rise or not? Is it the Government or the companies themselves?

Answer from Chris Heaton-Harris

I agree with what the Secretary of State said about rail workers, who, up and down the country, will no doubt have noticed how much support the Government have given the industry since the pandemic struck and how little revenue the passenger sector is generating. They would have noticed the public sector pay policy announced by the Chancellor in the spending review. The figures are simple. The average national earnings growth rate since 2011 for the average UK worker is 2.2%; for train and tram drivers, it is 3.4%; for rail transport operatives, 4.4%; and for rail and rolling stock builders and repairers, 4.6%. We truly value our rail workers.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked who makes the decision on pay rises but no specific mention was made about decision-makers in the answer.

How: Provided General Figures And Statements Of Support Without Addressing Decision-Making Specifics

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